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Curtis Lazar just spent a full season improving his odds of cracking the Senators' 2014-15 roster.

And on Canada Day, those odds received yet another boost.

The Senators first round pick in 2013 will likely start low on the camp depth chart, but only because of his lack of experience. With the Senators failing to add the four new forwards GM Bryan Murray originally desired, the door has opened a little wider for Lazar.

"I know I want be one of those forwards," Lazar said upon arriving at Canadian Tire Centre for development camp check-in a couple of hours prior to the Jason Spezza trade was announced. "But it's up to me. All the fate is in my hand. I have to go on the ice, I have to perform. I'm not looking too far ahead right now. I have to focus on this week. I want to develop, get better, come to camp flying and hopefully stick around."

At the draft in Philadelphia last weekend, Murray told reporters he needed to add two left wingers, a centre and a tough guy. On Tuesday he scored a couple of wingers by retaining Milan Michalek and acquiring Alex Chiasson, although the latter generally plays the right side.

While he does hope to soon make a trade for another forward, Murray now concedes one of the "young people" in the organization will have to step up and prove he's ready to play in the NHL full-time.

Lazar, meanwhile, is a natural centre, and could conceivably start his NHL career as one.

"Training camp will really determine that," said Murray. "We thought in the beginning, it probably would be easier for him to play right wing. Now that we've acquired Alex, there might be a situation where he would have to play centre, which is not a bad thing, and he probably prefers."

Lazar had a dream-like 2013-14, establishing himself as one of Canada's best players at the world junior championships and winning the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also scored 41 goals and 35 assists in 58 regular season games, while chipping in with 22 points (10 goals) in 22 playoff tilts.

When he weighed in at CTC Tuesday, Lazar was happy to see he gained seven pounds since last summer now has 203 pounds on his 6-foot frame.

"My quickness scores are faster than last year, I can't complain about that," he said, before adding with a laugh, "I just wish I could grow a little taller."

Lazar finds it's much easier being at his second Senators camp.

"I know what to expect to a certain standpoint," he said. "I don't have the nerves like I did last year. It's funny seeing some of these guys are recent draft picks, I know exactly what they're going through. In saying that, it is a business. You want to leave an impression on this camp. But you can't forget about having fun too. I love this game, I love being out here in the city of Ottawa.

"I'm coming in here and I'm expected to perform but I like that. I can build off my score and results from last year but also have fun with this. I haven't seen these guys in a while. Its a really fun week to get out here, get on the ice again."

After training with the likes of Nashville's Shea Weber, Pittsburgh's Blake Comeau and Buffalo's Josh Gorges - and after watching friends like Nathan MacKinnon and Sean Monahan step right into the NHL from juniors -- Lazar thinks he is also ready to make the jump to the world's top league.

"I do, especially after getting my experience last year," he said. "I know I was hurt in training camp but I did get into a couple of games and I felt great. I mean, there's a great core of guys here that make the transition easy for you. The coaching staff is great, they really just help you along the way.

"I feel like I'm ready for that next step but again, who knows what's going happen?"

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Door opens for Ottawa Senators' Lazar

Curtis Lazar just spent a full season improving his odds of cracking the Senators' 2014-15 roster.

And on Canada Day, those odds received yet another boost.

The Senators first round pick in 2013 will likely start low on the camp depth chart, but only because of his lack of experience. With the Senators failing to add the four new forwards GM Bryan Murray originally desired, the door has opened a little wider for Lazar.

"I know I want be one of those forwards," Lazar said upon arriving at Canadian Tire Centre for development camp check-in a couple of hours prior to the Jason Spezza trade was announced. "But it's up to me. All the fate is in my hand. I have to go on the ice, I have to perform. I'm not looking too far ahead right now. I have to focus on this week. I want to develop, get better, come to camp flying and hopefully stick around."